Tetris Effect

Journey mode in Tetris Effect

As in the original Tetris game, the player must place tetrominos into a playfield to create complete lines, which are then cleared from the playfield. Tetris Effect adds themes and music across thirty different stages with gameplay tied to the beat of the music.[1] A new "Zone" mechanic allows players to place several blocks at once, allowing the player to clear many lines at once, more than what is possible in conventional Tetris games.[2] The game also includes a meta-game leveling system that leads to new challenges for players as they progress.[1][3]

Tetris Effect has been in development since 2012, and is inspired by the phenomenon of the same name, where after playing Tetris for a long period of time, players would continue to see falling Tetris blocks for some time after quitting the game. Co-producer Tetsuya Mizuguchi had wanted for many years to produce a music-based game around Tetris, but its licensing had been held by Electronic Arts, making it difficult to use. Around 2012, Mizuguchi began discussing with Henk Rogers, the founder of The Tetris Company which now owns the rights to Tetris about developing a version of Tetris set to music with a "zone" that players would achieve while playing, leading to the start of the game's development.[3] The game is also compatible with the PlayStation VR headset. The game was released on November 9, 2018.[4]

A Microsoft Windows version, with support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive VR systems, launched July 23, 2019,[5][6] followed by Oculus Quest on May 14, 2020.[7] A version for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and Windows 10 via the Microsoft Store was announced on July 23, 2020. Known as Tetris Effect: Connected, this version includes an all-new cooperative multiplayer mode, as well as the new competitive mode that pays homage to the first console versions of Tetris with its simplified visual style and stricter rules similar to those used during the Classic Tetris World Championship.[8] Tetris Effect Connected was released on November 10, 2020. The game was also made available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers at launch.[9] The multiplayer expansion will later release as a free update for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR, Epic Game Store, and Oculus Quest versions in Summer 2021.[10] The game will also be releasing onto Steam in Summer 2021.[11]

Upon launch day, Tetris Effect was met with highly positive reviews with many critics praising new game modes, the soundtrack, the visuals, and VR integration, with some critics calling it as a fitting love letter to Tetris.[31] The game currently holds an 89 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating favorable reviews from critics.[12]

The game won the award for "Best VR/AR Game" at the 2018 Game Critics Awards.[32] It was nominated for the same category at The Game Awards 2018,[33] and won both the Coney Island Dreamland Award for Best Virtual Reality Game and the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game at the New York Game Awards;[34][35] it was also nominated for "Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition" at the D.I.C.E. Awards,[36] and won the awards for "Game, Puzzle" and "Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards, whereas its other nomination was for "Graphics, Technical".[37][38] It also won the award for "Excellence in Musical Score" at the SXSW Gaming Awards, whereas its other nomination was for "Excellence in SFX";[39][40] in addition, it was nominated for "Best Audio", the "Innovation Award", and "Best VR/AR Game" at the Game Developers Choice Awards,[41] for "Best Interactive Score" at the 2019 G.A.N.G. Awards,[42] and for "Audio Achievement" and "Music" at the 15th British Academy Games Awards,[43] and won the award for "Best Audio" at the Develop:Star Awards.[44][45] The game was also nominated for "Best Audio", "Best VR/AR Game", and "PlayStation Game of the Year" at the 2019 Golden Joystick Awards.[46]

Eurogamer named Tetris Effect its game of the year for 2018, writing "It's a game of utter purity, a contemporary take on a timeless classic, and a genuinely inspiring and uplifting experience. It doesn't care about the zeitgeist, because it is, in itself, the history and the future of video games rolled into one. It's Tetris Effect."[19] The game was also deemed the best game of 2018 by Giant Bomb.[47]

Tetris Effect sold 4,372 units in Japan during its first week of release.[48]

• Official website